Carbureter.



No. 807,144. PATENTED DEG. 12, 1905. B. F. WALKER.V

CARBURETER.

APPLIGATLON FILED JAN.16, 1905.

WLM/Lames UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CARBURETER.

Specieaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 12, 1905.

Application led January 16, 1905. Serial No. 241,198.

To (LZ/Z wil/0m, t may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN F. WALKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bridgeport, county of Faireld, State of Connecticut, have invented a new and Auseful Carbureter, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to carbureters adapted for use in hydrocarbon-engines generally, and especially adapted for use in engines for motor vehicles and boats.

lt is one of the objects of this invention to provide convenient `means for regulating both the fuel and air supply in an instants time and without the use of tools, so that a chauffeur may materially modify and change the fuel mixture without stopping the engine and without leaving his seat.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for cutting off or increasing both the fuel and air supply simultaneously or for regulating the fuel-supply without affecting the air-supply.

A further object of the invention is to produce a carbureter in which the air-supply shall be controlled by a coil-spring throttle.

A further object of the invention is to produce a carbureter in which the air may be directed into the fuel in j ets.

A further object of the invention is to produce a carbureter in which both the air and lfuel supply may be controlled by a single ever.

A further object of the invention is to produce a earbureter in which the fuel-valve shall be opened by a spring or springs and closed by a cam simultaneously with the regulation of the air-supply.

A further object of the invention is to provide a carbureter in which the fuel and air supply shall be controlled by a single leverseen from the right in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3 3 in Fig. 1 looking down.

10 denotes the body of my novel carbureter, which may be cast in a single piece and is provided with an air-inlet 11, with agfuelinlet pipe 12 and an outlet-passage 13 for the fuel mixture. The upper end of the body 1s closed by a separable top 14, which rests upon and fits closely within the body, the portion of the top lying within the body being provided with a circumferential groove 15. The top may be attached to the body 1n any convenient manner. ln the present instance in order to provide for the adjustment of the top in the horizontal plane relative to the body for a purpose presently to be described l provide the portion of the top lying within the body with a circumferential groove 15, which is engaged by set-screws 16 to retain the top in place. For convenience in description l term the lower portion of thebody an air-chamber, which is indicated by 17, and the portion above the air-chamber a mixing-chamber, which is indicated by 18. It will of course be understood that the special shape or configuration of the body is not of the essence of the invention.

19 denotes a plunger the upper end of which fits closely in an opening through the top and which extends downward through the mixing-chamber and into the air-chamber. The special shape of this plunger is immaterial, it being simply required that its lower end be open, as at 20, in order to permit both air and fuel to pass freely into the mixingchamber. A

The fuel-inlet pipe, which is shown as cast integral with the body, extends into the airchamber and is providedvwith a sprayingnozzle 22, lying centrally therein. An important feature of the invention is a coilspring air-throttle 42, through which air passes, the base of which surrounds and rests against the air-inlet pipe, which is suitably shaped to support it and' the upper end of which engages an internal shoulder 21 on the plunger, which receives and supports the upper end of said coilspring throttle. The gist of this portion of the invention lies in utilizing the expansion and contraction of al spring to regulate the passage of air, most-of which must pass between the coils of the spring to reach the mixing-chamber. l have shown a spring for this purpose in the form of an inverted cone, although this IOO IIO

form is not essential. I preferably use this form, however, for the reason that when the spring is compressed by downward movement of the plunger, as will be more fully explained, the upper coils being the weakest will close together first and cause the air to pass between the lower coils of the spring, and consequently closer to the spraying-nozzle, thereby increasing the suction and facilitating the mixture of air and fuel.

In order to insure a suction of air around the spraying-nozzle, I provide the upper end of the nozzle with grooves 23, through which air passes in close proximity to the jet-opening.

24 denotes a valve-stem which is adapted to move longitudinally in a central opening in the plunger which receives it closely. The upper end of the valve-stem extends above the plunger and the lower end is provided with a valve 25, which is adapted to close the jet-opening in the spraying-nozzle.

26 denotes standards, which extend upward from the top, 27 a cam lying between the standards, and 28 a pivot-screw to which the cam is affixed and the ends of which turn freely in the standards, this pivot-screw being'the center of oscillation of the cam. The cam is provided with a central recess 29 in the plane of its oscillation, which extends through it, and with a lever or handpiece 30 for convenience in manipulation. The action of cam 27 is upon the upper end of the plunger to force the latter downward against the resiliency of the coil-spring air-throttle, downward movement of the plunger acting to compress the coil-spring air-throttle and close the coils thereof, thus restricting the quantity of air that passes to the mixingchamber to the amount that can Apass between the lower coils of the spring and through grooves 23 in the spraying-nozzle, the air that passes through the grooves reaching the jet-opening in jets. I find in practice that this passing of air to the et-opening in jets produces a strong suction around the nozzle and facilitates the mixing of air and fuel in the mixing-chamber.

At the upper end of the valve-stem is a cross-piece 31. Stop-screws 32 pass through the cross-piece and through recesses 33 in the top and engage the top below the recesses. Springs 34 in the recesses bear against the under side of the cross-piece and act to retain the cross-piece and the valve-stem and valve at the raised position. The extreme lift of the valve-stem and valve and the consequent opening of the spraying-nozzle are determined by the adjustment of the stopscrews 32.

35 denotes binding-screws in the top, the ends of which impinge against the stopscrews and lock them in position after adjustment.

36 denotes a cam lying in recess 29 in cam 27, which bears upon cross-piece 31. Cam 36 is provided with an elongated opening 37, through which pivot-screw 28 passes, and

with a threaded shank 38, which hes in a longitudinal hole. 39 in the lever and is engaged by an adj usting-nut 40, lying in a transverse recess 4l in the lever'. Should it be required at any time for the convenience of the operator to change the plane of oscillation of the lever relative to the vertical axis of the carbureter, it is simply required to loosen setscrews 16 and oscillate the top on the body suiiiciently to place the lever in the required plane of movement, after which the top may be locked in position again by tightening up the set-screws.

The operation is as follows: The adjustment of stop screws 32 which limit the upward movement of the cross-piece and valve is permanent and does not require to be changed under ordinary conditions, but may of course be changed at any time, if required. The opening and closing of the coil-spring airthrottle is controlled by cam 27, and the opening and closing of the fuel-valve by cam 36, both of which cams are actuated simultaneously by movement of the lever, the center of oscillation of both the cams being pivotscrew 28. It will be noted that the periphery of cam 27 is practically a true circle, of which the pivot-screw is the center, between the points indicated by@ and b, so that oscillation of the camwith this portion of its periphery in engagement with the plunger will have no effect upon the latter. Ihen, however, the cam is oscillated toward the left from the position shown in Fig. l by movement of the lever toward the right, the

plunger will be pressed downward to closey the coil-spring air-throttle, this for the -reason that the periphery of the cam has a rapidlyincreasing radius from the point indicated by b to the point indicated by c. Beyond the point indicated by c-that is, from the point indicated by c to the point indicated lby g-the periphery of said cam is relatively flattened and is approximately an arc of a circle of which the pivot-screw is the center, so that continued oscillation of the cam toward the left will have no effect on the plunger and'coil-spring air-throttle. The shortest radius of cam 36 is at the center, as indicated by d.` From this point in its periphery said cam has a rapidly-increasing radius in both directions-that is, from the point indicated by d to the point indicated by e and from the point indicated by d to the point indicated by f. In other words, the periphery of cam 36 is so shaped that oscillationin either direction from a point at which the lever is vertically upright and the point indicated by d is in engagement with the cross-piece at the upper end of the valve-stem will act to press down the cross-piece and move the valve toward the closed position to shut off the pas- IIC sage of fuel into the mixing-chamber. When, therefore, the lever is swung from a vertically upright position toward the right air and fuel. will be shut off simultaneously-that is, less air and less fuel will pass to the mixingchamber; but the relative proportions of air and fuel that pass to the miXmg-chamber will not be changed until after the point indicated by c in the periphery of cam 27 shall have passed beyond the point of engagement with the top of the plunger toward the left. Should the lever be swung further toward the right, however, from a point at which the portion of its periphery indicated by c is in engagement with the plunger, the fuel-valve may be entirely closed through the action of cam 36 without additional closing of the coil-spring air-throttle. Should the lever be moved vfrom a vertically upright position toward the left, there will be no material effect upon the coil-spring air-throttle. The coils which would not be at the fullyopened position when the lever was vertically upright would open additionally until the point indicated by b in the periphery of cam 27 was in engagement with the top of the plunger. While the portion. of the periphery of this cam indicated by b a was in engagement with the plunger there would be `no action on the coil-spring air-throttle, but

the fuel-valve would be moved toward the closed position by the action of the portion of the periphery of cam 36 indicated by d ewith the cross-piece. Briefly, then, movement of the lever from a vertically upright position toward the right will shut off the airsupply and fuel-supply simultaneously, lessening the quantity of eachv admitted to the mixing chamber, but without materially affecting the proportions of air and fuel in the mixture, and movement of the lever from a vertically upright position toward the left will shut off the fuel-supply without materially chan ing the air-supply, it being understood, o course, that springs 34 act to retain the cross-piece always closely in engagel ment with cam 36. The adjustment of stopscrews 32, which limit the upward movement of the cross-piece, is, as already stated, ordinarily a permanent adj ustment-that is, these stop-screws are adjusted to permit the cross-piece to be raised high enough by the spring to carry the fuel-valve to the fullyopen position. Should it be required at any time to produce a more rapid or complete cut-off of the fiow of fuel, this may be done in an instants time without stopping the engine and without the chauffeurs leaving his seat by simply turning adjusting-nut 4() on shank 38, which extends from cam 36, it being obvious that this result will be accomplished by moving the cam downward more or less, as may be required. When iirst starting the engine upon which the carbureter is used, cam 36 is so adjusted relative to cam 27, by means of the adjusting-nut, as to give .the desired results. Under ordinary conditions when once adjusted the position of cam 36 does not require to be changed unless the conditions of use should be changed materially or the carbureter be placed upon another engine. When once adjusted, cam 36 may be clamped between the walls of recess 2/ in. cam 27 by means of pivot-screw 28, the tightening up of which locks the two cams rigidly together.

Having thus described `my invention, I claiml. In a carbureter the combination with a body having an air-inlet and a central fuelspraying nozzle, of a cone-shaped coil-spring air-throttle through which air passes and whose smaller coils surround and rest upon the spraying-nozzle and means for closing the coils to shut off the passage of air.

2. In a carbureter the combination with a body having an air-inlet and a central fuelspraying nozzle having grooves for the passage of air, of a cone-shaped coil-spring airthrottle through which air passes and whose smaller coils surround the spraying-nozzle and means for closing the coils to shut off the passage of air between the coils and cause air to pass through the grooves and to the fuelspray in jets.

3. In a carbureter the combination with a body having an air-inlet and a central spraying nozzle, of a coil spring air throttle through which air passes, a plunger resting upon the coil-spring air-throttle, a fuel-valve having a stem extending longitudinally IOO through .the plunger and cams adapted to act on the plunger .and the valve-stem respectively.

4. In a carbureter the combination with a body having an air-inlet and a central spraying -nozzle and a coil-spring air throttle through which air passes, of a plunger resting upon the coil-spring air-throttle, a fuel-valve having a stem extending longitudinally through the plunger, a spring-actuated crosspiece to whichthe upper end of the valvestem is attached, a cam for actuating the cross-piece and valve-stem against the power of the spring and a cam for actuating the plunger against the power of the coil-spring air-throttle.

5. In a carbureter the combination with a body having an air-inlet and a central spraying nozzle and a coilspring air throttle through which air passes, of a plunger resting upon the coil-spring air-throttle, a fuel-valve having a stem extending longitudinally through the plunger and simultaneouslymoving cams for actuating said plunger and valve-stem, the periphery of the plungercam being a true circle on one side and having a rapidly-increasing radius on the other side and the fuel-valve cam having its shortest radius at the central portion and portions IIO having rapidly-increasing radii on opposite sides of said central portion so that when said cams are oscillated in one direction the fuel-valve will be moved toward the closed position without materially affecting the coilspring air-throttle and when the cams are oscillated in the opposite direction the coilspring air-throttle and fuel-valve will be moved toward the closed position simultaneously to shut oli the fuel and air supply but without materially changing the relative proportions in the mixture.

6. In a carbureter the combination with a body having an air-inlet and a central Jfuelspraying nozzle having grooves for the passage of air, of a cone-shaped coil-spring airthrottle whose smaller coils surround the spraying-nozzle, a plunger engaging the coilspring air-throttle and a cam acting on the plunger to close the coils and cause air to pass through the grooves and to the spraying-nozzle in ets.

7. In a carbureter the combination with a body having an air-inlet and a central fuelspraying nozzle, of a coil-spring air-throttle, a plunger resting thereon, a fuel-valve adapted to engage the spraying-nozzle and having a stem extending through the plunger and cams acting on said plunger and sprayingnozzle respectively, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

S. In a carbureter the combination with a spraying-nozzle and a spring-opened valve therefor, of a cam for actuating the valve, said cam having its shortest radius at the center so that when oscillated in either direction it will move the valve toward the closed resting thereon, a fuel-valve having a stem passing through the plunger, cams acting on the plunger and the valve-stem respectively and means for adjusting the fuel-valve cam relative to the plunger-cam.

1 1. In a carbureter the combination with a body having an air-inlet and a top adjustable in the horizontal plane relative to the body, of a coil-spring air-throttle, a plunger resting thereon and a cam for actuating the plunger, which is pivoted on the top and is provided with an operating-lever, the vertical plane of oscillation of said lever being determined by the adjustment of the top relative to the body. y

12. In a carbureter the combination with a body having an air-inlet and a sprayingnozzle, of a coil-spring air-throttle, a plunger resting thereon, a fuel-valve having a stem extending through the plunger, an adjustable top having standards, a cam for actuating the plunger lying between the standards and having a recess, a cam in said recess Jfor actuating the valve-stem and a pivot-screw passing throu h the standards and cam whereby the va ve-stem cam may be clamped in the recess and locked to the plunger-cam.

13. In a carbureter the combination with a sprayin -nozzle and a coil-spring air-throttle, of a p unger resting on the air-throttle, a fuel-valve having a stem passing through the plunger and cams for actuating said plunger and valve-stem respectively, the plungercam being so shaped that when oscillated in one direction it will close the air-throttle and when oscillated in the opposite direction it will be inoperative, and the valve-stem cam having its shortest radius at the center so that when oscillated in either direction from a central position it will close the fuel-valve.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signatiue in presence of two witnesses.

BENJAMIN F. WALKER. Witnesses:

A. M. WoosTER, S. W. ATHERTON. 

